The creepy crawlies cause horror skin rashes as well as vomiting and asthma attacks

The moths – which are highly toxic in their caterpillar stage – first came to the UK from mainland Europe in 2005.

Hairs on the caterpillars – which live in and feed off oak trees – contain toxins which can cause severe skin rashes and asthma attacks as well as causing eye and throat irritations, vomiting, dizziness and fever.

Bosses at the Forestry Commission have issued a map of potential hotspots and workers have been working to get rid of nests around the south east of England over the past few weeks.

The hotspots include a host of areas in Guildford, Surrey, as well as Bromley in south east London, Croydon in south London, as well as areas in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark – and as far north as Watford in Herts.

Bosses at Kew Gardens recently closed off several areas of the 300-acre park to spray oak trees in a bid to fend off the pests.

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Gardner Nick Black, who runs the Muddy Gardener from its HQ in Ashford, Surrey, and covers the south west area of London and Surrey, posted a photo of an oak processionally moth nest in the Twickenham area on Thursday (June 8).

Yesterday bosses at the City of London Corporation said nests had been found in Epping Forest, which straddles Essex and Greater London.

A spokesman said: “Spraying to destroy two Oak Processionary Moth nests found at Hollow Pond (in Epping Forest) began on June 8.